Hand knitting apparatus kit



May 21, 1968 1.. A. LINSTEAD HAND KNITTING APPARATUS KIT Original Filed May 25, 19,65

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 21, 1968 A. LI NSTEAD 3,384,220

HAND KNITTING APPARATUS KIT Griginal Filed May 25, 1965 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Iwueim JW a, 4'6", mmam 14m:

May 21, 1968 L. A. LINSTEAD HAND KNITTING APPARATUS KIT Original Filed May 25, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,384,220 HAND KNITTING APPARATUS KIT Lorraine A. Linstead, 11934 Ventura Blvd., Loves Park, Ill. 61111 Original application May 25, 1965, Ser. No. 458,723, now Patent No. 3,280,595, dated Oct. 25, 1966. Divided and this application July 20, 1966, Ser. No. 566,550

9 Claims. (Cl. 206-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A kit including a case having two trays for holding a plurality of different size knitting needles, flexible cords, stitch holders, coupling members, and tools. The parts may be combined to form stitch holders, or circular or straight needle assemblies in different sizes, tips, and lengths.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 458,723, filed May 25, 1965, now Patent No 3,280,595.

This invention relates to knitting and more particularly to a hand knitting apparatus.

In hand knitting carried on in the home, efficient work requires that the knitter use a large number of different knitting needles and related apparatus. This is due to the variations in the characteristics of articles she may knit. For example, the article can range from small and tubular, as a baby bootie, to large and fiat, as a blanket. Thus, the shape of the article and the number of stitches may vary in any particular article being knitted and, obviously, different types and lengths of needles are required. Likewise, the size of the yarn selected or the particular design of the article may require any one of various needle sizes. For example, in decorative knitting, various sizes of needles may be required in the same row of stitches. This is true with respect to both straight and circular needles.

When the article being knitted is to be set aside temporarily, as frequently occurs with the hobbyist, or fitted on a person for size, or the like, it is desirable that a stitch holder or work holder be provided so that stitches are not dropped and the knitting ruined. Numerous stitch holders may be required for various size articles as described above. Thus, the knitter may find herself faced with the purchase of a number of stitch holders, as well as different knitting needles, if she does a variety of knitting.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a hand knitting apparatus, in new and useful kit form, and which includes a variety of carefully chosen related parts which are readily selectable and easily assembled into various knitting needle assemblies on stitch holders.

An object, related to the foregoing, is to provide a new and useful container for a collection of integrated parts, adapted to be connected or disconnected at the instance of the knitter, and for holding the parts in a predetermined, orderly manner which enables simplified visual selection of the parts and simplified storage thereof.

An important object is to provide a hand knitting apparatus that is adaptable to practically all of the situations that may be presented to the hand knitter, and particularly that she may provide either stitch holders, or circular or sraight needle assemblies through the use of common elements and that she may provide such needle arrangements in different sizes, tips, and lengths.

It is another object to provide a hand knitting apparatus wherein a more or less standard type and size flexible unit is provided which includes a flexible vinyl tubular element having couplings attached at either end and which may be associated with similar flexible units to provide different lengths for stitch holders or straight or circular knitting needle assemblies and in which the vinyl tubular 3,384,220 Patented May 21, 1968 element may be easily cut and the coupling inserted into the cut end by the knitter to provide a flexible member of selected length.

Still another object is to provide a hand knitting apparatus wherein the flexible member or unit of either a circular or straight knitting needle may, without transfer of the stitches thereon, be utilized as a stitch holder by replacement of each needle by a flanged stitch stop.

Yet another object, related to the foregoing, is to provide an attachment for joining both ends of the flexible unit to form a circular stitch holder.

A further object of this invention is to provide flanged stitch stops at either end of a flexible unit and which have interconnecting parts to form a circular stitch holder.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a novel kit arrangement constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a circular knitting needle assembly wherein separable components are associated in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a straight knitting needle assembly wherein the separable components are associated in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing a different form end coupling member to be interposed between the flexible element and the knitting needle to form an angular connection therebetween;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plane view of a plurality of flexible members made under the present invention and associated with other components to form a circular stitch holder;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a female coupling member adapted to be interposed between a pair of adjacent flexible members;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of one of the end coupling elements that are associated with each end of the flexible tubular element;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing an end coupling element wherein the opposite ends are arranged at an angle to each other;

FIG. 9 is a sectional View of a pair of flanged stitch stops having means for interconnecting to form a circular stitch holder as shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a connector element adapted to be used as shown in FIG. 5 for connecting the opposite ends of a flexible assembly for stitch holding as described.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a hand knitting kit is generally designated by the numeral 12. The particular kit, shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, comprises a container, a plurality of related members that may be assembled in different combinations and relationships, and means in the container for receiving and storing the individual members. In this instance, the container includes a generally rectangular box structure 14 having a base and sides and open at the top. A closure in the form of a lid 16 is preferably hinged to the box, as at 15, in order that the lid is always present for closing after the necessary parts required by the knitter are removed by her. In this manner, the parts are protected from loss or misplacement when the lid is closed. In accordance with the invention, the individual components which go together to make up the kit arrangement, are assembled and positioned for easy access and storage. Accordingly, the invention provides an attractively sectional holder member or shelf 18, suitably formed of plastic material and fitted within the box portion 14 as shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the shelf 18 has downturned marginal flanges 19 for supporting the same on the bottom or supporting section of the box 14. In order to permit the expansion of a number of available parts in the kit, the shelf 18 has a centrally disposed depression 20 recessed from the upper surface as by wall 19. A second shelf or tray 22, is adapted to reside in the depression and is supported by do-wnturned marginal flanges 23. The second shelf 22 is suitably formed of plastic material and is preferably substantially translucent for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

As indicated, the kit 12 comprising the present invention includes a variety of related parts which may be assembled in different combinations and relationships at the will of the user to provide a circular knitting needle assembly 24, as shown in FIG. 2; a straight knitting needle assembly 26, as shOWn in FIG. 3; or a stitch holder such as the circular stitch holder 28 illustrated in FIG. 5. Each needle assembly 24 or 26 may be made up of needles 32 of any selected size and may embody one or more flexible member 33 so that the assemblies will have the length that is required for the number of stitches involved in the particular knitting project at hand.

As best indicated in FIG. 1, an exemplary kit 12 may conveniently contain needles 32 from size through size 16. The needles 32 are preferably about 5 /2 inches long with a tapered tip 34 at the forward end thereof. The tips 34 may be of the usual or standard configuration illustrated, or may take specialized forms (not shown) as known to those skilled in the art. At their left or rear ends, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the needles 32 are provided with an inwardly sloping or tapered portion 36 which provides a smooth transition to associated parts of smaller diameter to be hereinafter described. It is contemplated that this tapered or sloping portion 36 may terminate in a shoulder 37 having a diameter that corresponds substantially equal with the diameter of end couplings 38 of flexible units 33. Preferably no needles will have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the end coupling; however, the smallest needle may be of substantially the same diameter and have a generally smooth body portion with no end taper 36, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The flexible units 33 comprise a flexible tubular member or element 46 having end couplings 38 associated with opposite ends. Each end coupling 38 includes an intermediate body portion 42 that has a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the flexible tube 40, a projecting stem 44 of smaller diameter than the body 42 but not less than the inside diameter of the flexible element 40, and a reduced threaded stud 46 at its other end. In its preferred form, projecting stem 44 has a plurality of relatively sharp, annular retaining rings 45 thereon. In this manner, the tubular element 40 may be forced onto the stem 44 with the end of the tubular element abutting a shoulder 47 at the adjacent end of the body 42, and the tubular element 40' will engage and be retained in position by the retaining rings 45. With the end of the tubular element generally contiguous to shoulder 45, the flexible assembly 33 provides a generally smooth cylindrical surface along and over which knitting stitches may freely slide. The body portion 42 may be relatively short, as shown in FIG. 7, or longer, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, as is desired. Another form of stem is illustrated at 44' in FIG. 7. As shown, the surface of the stem 44 is substantially smooth and its diameter is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the flexible tube 40 to provide a snug fit therebetween.

The end couplings 38 may take different forms as shown, for example, in FIGS. 7 and 8. The various parts described above may be substantially coaxial (FIG. 7) or the intermediate portion or body 42 may be bent slightly (FIG. 8) so that the threaded stud 46 is at a generally obtuse angle to stem 44. The angulated end coupling of FIG. 8 is particularly adapted to a short length circular knitting needle, for example, 14" or less, one end of which is illustrated in FIG. 4. It should be noted that no two knitters hold their needles the same Way while knitting. Thus, when using a circular knitting needle assembled with the angulated end couplings 38', the knitter may find that the tips of her needles are not aligned to suit her. Simply twisting the end couplings in the tube 40 corrects this situation.

The flexible elements 49 are preferably in the form of an elongate hollow tube preferably constructed of vinyl plastic. The vinyl plastic is advantageously of the type which is very flexible and can stretch somewhat under tension. In this manner, when an end coupling 38 is inserted into the tube, the vinyl frictionally secures th coupling even when it is relatively smooth, as shown in FIG. 7. In an application similar to the Chinese finger trick, pulling on the end coupling only serves to reduce the diameter of the flexible element 40 and more securely holds the end couplings 38 in frictional engagement therein. Since the flexible element is tubular throughout its entire length, the flexible element may be cut to size by the user by cutting it to length, as with a razor blade, cutting out the end coupling 38 and pushing it into the new end of the flexible element 40. This procedure can also be used in case of a failure of the flexible tubing. The flexible members or assemblies 33, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, have an end coupling 38 at either end so that identical threaded studs 46 project from each end of the flexible member 33 for association with other components of the knitting .kit to provide an assembled knitting apparatus suitable to the problem at hand. Thus, the needles 32 have axially i11- ternally threaded sockets 50 formed therein that are complemental to the studs 46 of the end couplings 38 so that the stud 46 at one end of the flexible unit 33 may be threaded into the socket 50 of such needle 32. At the other end of the flexible unit 33, may be associated another needle, as shown in FIG 2, or a flanged stitch stop 62 as shown in FIG. 3. The flanged stitch stop 62 resembles a but-ton like head that has an axially internally threaded socket 66 formed therein which is identical with the socket 50 previously described. The threaded stud 46 at the left end of the flexible unit may be threaded into the socket 66 of the stitch stop 62 to thus complete the straight needle assembly of FIG. 2. In an ordinary arrangement, the user would assemble two such straight needle assemblies to 'be used together.

While the flexible units 33 may be made up of any desired length, I prefer to employ a plurality of standardized lengths for example, 12, 14, 18, and 22 inches, so that by association of a single unit 33 with a needle 32, a straight knitting needle assembly 26 of appropriate length may be provided. Such standardized flexible units 33 may, however, be associated under this invention to provide other assemblies where greater length is desired. For this purpose, a female coupling 53 is provided, as shown in FIG. 6. The coupling 53 constitutes a relatively short cylindrical body having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the body 42 of the end couplings 38. The coupling has axially internally threaded sockets 54 in each to receive threaded studs 46 of the couplings 33 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The body of the coupling 53 has a radial bore 55, as do the intermediate body portions 42 of the end coupling 38. Each bore 55 may be engaged by a small spanner wrench 56 when the couplings 38 and 53 are being connected or disconnected, as best shown in FIG. 2, or when the end coupling 38 is being connected or disconnected to a needle 32 or flanged stitch stop 62. In the embodiment illustrated, the spanner wrench 56 has a generally circular elongate body with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of bore 55. It is contemplated that diflerent shapes and cross-sections can be utilized for the spanner wrench 56 and bore 55.

Because the flexible vinyl tubular element 40 is flexible,

it will not kink or hold a permanent bend or set and, because of its tubular form, it is adapted for quick and easy repair in the home when this is required, as explained above. The flexible member serves, of course, to avoid the objectionable travelling experienced in some prior circular needles, as well as disjoining in the manner experienced where chains have been used in the past. Additionally, the use of vinyl allows a simpler connection to one end coupling than has been possible in previous arrangements in the past.

When a number of stitches have been formed on a needle assembly such as needle assembly 24 shown in FIG. 2, these stitches may be conveniently held merely by pushing the stitches onto the flexible units 33, disconnecting the needles 32, and replacing them with interfitting flanged stitch stops 62 and 64. For this purpose, each of the flanged stitch stops has a threaded socket 66 and a button-like stitch-retaining flange 65. Additionally, the stitch stops 62 and 64 have a particularly advantageous interfltting arrangement. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the interfitting arrangement comprises an annular upstanding boss 67 on the flange 65 of stitch stop 62 and an annular receiving member 68 on the flange of stitch stop 64. The boss 67 is arranged to snap into the receiving member 68 and be retained thereby, but is easily disengaged by the knitter as she desires. When the stitch stops are used at either end of a flexible member 33, an elongate stitch holder is formed; when these same stitch stops are interconnected, a circular stitch holder is formed. It should be noted that this storage or holding operation is accomplished without the usual transfer of stitches from a needle to a stitch holder. It is contemplated that other forms and arrangements of interfit-ting stitch stops may be used.

An alternate means for making a circular stitch holder is illustrated in FIG. 10. The embodiment illustrated is in the form of a union-type coupler 72 comprising a pair of similar cylindrical bodies 74 which may be of the same diameter as the end coup-ling body 42 having an axial threaded socket 75 in one end to receive threaded studs 46 of end coupling 38. At the opposite end of each body 74 is an outward circular flange 76 which is held in face to face relationship with the other flange 76 by a flanged annular member 78. The annular member 78 holds the bodies 74 substantially coaxial and for rotation independently of each other. Radial bores 55 are conveniently formed in each body to receive spanner wrench 56 and thereby facilitate connection and disconnection to the end couplings 38.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides hand knitting apparatus whereby a kit having a relatively small number of interrelated parts or components enables the hand knitter to provide needle assemblies of either the straight or circular kind having the most advantageous length, and having needles of the desired size and with the desired tip. It should be apparent that the length of the needle assembly may be varied during the course of knitting merely by adding an additional flexible member to its length as required, for example, when a substantially triangular piece of knitting is being formed.

It will also be evident that under the present invention, the flexible portion of either the straight or circular needle assembly may be detached from the needles, and used as a switch holder without transfer of the stitches. The flange stitch stops utilized to form a substantially straight knitting needle as shown in FIGURE 3, may be snapped onto an interconnecting stitch stop which replaces the needle, to form the compact circular stitch holder of FIG. 5.

The flexible members 33, of course, are an essential part of the kit 12, being utilized in each of the usable assemblies, and immediate access to them is provided in accordance with the invention, by placing them in the uppermost portion of shelf 18. For this purpose, an

arcuate recess 81 extends around three sides of the depression 20. A plurality of walls or partitions 82 are pro vided in the recess 81 to define a plurality of individual grooves for receiving a number of flexible units. So as to provide easy removal from the particular groove in which they reside, the Walls 82 have a length less than the length of the recess 81 and conveniently terminate near the center, as at 83, in order to provide space for the finger to reach in and remove the flexible units or cords.

In a similar manner, each of the shelves 18 and 22 has a recess '86 for holding a plurality of pairs of knitting needles 32. Each recess 86 has a plurality of partitions or walls 87 for conveniently defining a groove or compartment for each pair of needles. Each partition 87 conveniently has a length less than the length of the needles to provide easy removal thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each shelf may have a number adjacent each compartment to indicate the needle size therein contained.

Recesses are also provided for stitch stops 62 and 64, female couplings 53, and spanner wrench 56, and the recesses are conveniently oversized to permit ready removal and replacement. In the embodiment illustrated, generally circular grooves 88 are provided in each shelf for the stitch stops, and elongate grooves 89 are provided in each shelf for the female! couplings and spanner wrenches.

Because the small size knitting needles have a greater tendency to be lost, and are more difficult to handle, they are preferably placed in the slots provided in the recess portion 20 of the main shelf 18. In accordance with the invention, the second shelf or tray 22 is substantially translucent and adapted to fit in the recess 20'. Thus, when the translucent tray 22 is in place, the parts beneath the tray are protected from loss or misplacement; yet are readily seen by reason of the translucency. This permits visual inspection of the kit and immediate cognizance of availability or absence of any particular part of the kit. Thus, with a place for every part and every part in its place, the utility of the kit is greatly enhanced and the user may easily keep track of all particular parts.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not limitation and that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A kit for selectively assembling different hand knitting needles and comprising: a plurality of pairs of knitting needles of different sizes, each needle having a tip at one end and a threaded axial socket at the end opposite said tip, a plurailty of flexible units each comprising a flexible tubular member having a generally uniform outer diameter not greater than the smallest needle and a predetermined inner diameter and a coupling member associated with each end thereof, each said coupling member having a threaded stud at one end for selective engagement with the threaded axial socket in one of said needles, an intermediate portion having an outer diameter approximating the outer diameter of said tubular member, and a stem at the other end frictionally secured to the inside wall of said tubular member, and a case for the needles and tubular members comprising a container, a plurality of pockets in the container varying in size according to needle size for holding the needles in an orderly manner, said pockets so constructed and arranged that at least a portion of the needle is exposed whereby it may be readily removed, elongate pocket means adjacent said plurality of pockets for holding said flexible units, and means providing a closure for said container.

2. A kit as set forth in claim 1 including at least one pair of flanged stitch stops each having a threaded socket therein for selective engagement with one of said threaded studs, and wherein the container has means for holding said flanged stitch stops.

3. A kit as set forth in claim 1 including a generally cylindrical female coupling having an outer diameter approximating the outer diameter of said intermediate portion of the coupling members, axial threaded sockets in opposite ends thereof for engagement with said threaded studs, and a transverse bore; and at least one tool having one end shaped for insertion into said transverse bore; and wherein at least one of said coupling members has a transverse bore in its intermediate portion and shaped similar to the transverse bore in the female coupling; and the container has means for holding said female coupling and tool.

4. A kit as set forth in claim 3 including at least one pair of flanged stitch stops each. having a threaded socket therein for selective engagement with one of said threaded studs, and wherein the container has means for holding said flanged stitch stops, and the elongate pocket means is adjacent three sides of at least a portion of said plurality of pockets, said elongate pocket means having wall means therein defining grooves, each groove for holding an individual flexible unit.

5. A kit as set forth in claim 3 including at least one pair of flanged stitch stops each having a threaded socket therein for selective engagement with one of said threaded studs, an upstanding boss on one of the stitch stops, a receiving means on the other of the stitch stops for lockingly engaging said boss, and wherein the container is substantially rectangular and open at the top, a first shelf spaced above the bottom of the container and having downturned marginal flanges for supporting the same on the bottom, a centrally disposed depression in said first shelf, a second shelf of substantially translucent material disposed above said depression and having downturned marginal flanges for supporting the same, each said depression and second shelf having said pocket means thereon for holding the needles, and wherein said elongate pocket means for holding the flexible units is on said first shelf and is adjacent three sides of said depression, and said elongate pocket means having wall means defining grooves for holding individual flexible units.

6. A case for hand knitting apparatus including flexible cords and detachable needles, said case comprising a container of generally rectangular shape and open at the top, a plurality of needle pocket means in the container shaped for holding a plurality of said detachable needles in an orderly manner and so arranged that at least a portion of each needle is exposed for ready removal through said open top, at least a portion of the plurality .of needle pocket means being generally parallel to each other and juxtaposed in an area adjacent one side of the container, generally arcuate elongate pocket means in the container adjacent three sides of said area and the other three sides of the container, said elongate pocket means having generally parallel wall means defining a plurality of grooves each shaped for closely holding one of the flexible cords, said grooves being open at the top of the container, the wall means having a length less than the length of the elongate pocket means to provide access for removal of the flexible cords, and means providing a closure for the container.

7. A case for hand knitting apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including means in the container shaped for holding at least one pair of flanged stitch stops.

8. A case for hand knitting apparatus, including flexible cords and detachable needles, said case comprising a generally rectangular container open at the top, said container having a first shelf spaced above the bottom of the container and having downturned marginal flanges for supporting the same, a centrally disposed depression in said first shelf, a second shelf of substantially translucent material disposed above the depression and having down turned marginal flanges for supporting the same, each said depression and second shelf having a plurality of first pocket means thereon for holding a plurality of the needles in an orderly manner and arranged so that at least a portion of each needle is exposed for ready removal, and elongate pocket means on the first shelf for holding the flexible cords, said elongate pocket means being adjacent three sides of said depression and having wall means defining grooves each for holding one of the flexible cords, and means providing a closure for the container.

9. In a storage case for hand knitting apparatus including knitting needles and elongate flexible members, the combination of: a supporting section, a tray having a top surface and downturned side walls engaged with the supporting section, said tray having a plurality of spacedapart storage grooves in its top surface and the top surface having intervening areas extending between said grooves, some of said grooves being shaped for holding the knitting needles, some other of said grooves being curved to extend in directions parallel with at least two of the side walls of the tray for holding the flexible members whereby an elongate flexible member having a length greater than the length of the tray may be stored therein, and means having a hinged connection to the supporting section and movable to a position overlying the tray to provide a cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,405,825 2/1922 Flannery 206-72 X 2,332,861 10/1943 Langsner 206-46 3,013,656 12/1961 Murphy 20672 FOREIGN PATENTS 548,891 11/1922 France.

MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. 

